Campus fashion comes at a price

By Shilpa Raina, New Delhi, July 27: Chequered shorts, skin-fit jeans, tunics in floral colours, big bags, wedge sandals and waistcoats - all this and more is on view on the Delhi University campus as its students make their personal style statements. But all this comes at a price.

The reasons for this are myriad. For one, the costs vary widely between branded and non-branded garments. Add to this, accessories like earrings and necklaces, as also belts, handbags and footwear - and it could set one back by a few thousand rupees.

Thus, just one outfit comprising all these items would start at Rs.5,000 and could go anywhere up to Rs.15,000 at a branded store.

The non-branded variety would cost as low as Rs.1,000.

Thus, most university students opt for a combination of the two but even so, one is looking at an outgo in the region of Rs.3,000 per outfit.

Also remember that the wardrobes of the trendy would comprise of at least two pairs of jeans, any number of tops, three handbags, and three to four pairs of footwear.

With most students opting for branded jeans due to their durability, any number of largely non-branded tops, as also non-branded accessories and footwear, a collection would start at Rs.5,000.

Then, with fashion trends - at least for tops - changing every three to six months, this would entail additional expenditure through the year.

"To make a style statement on the campus does burn your pockets but if you purchase wisely, it can surely make you look different," said Swati Sharma, a student at Miranda House.

Toward this, help is at hand at markets like Sarojini Nagar and Janpath in south and central Delhi respectively and at Kamla Nagar just off the university campus.

These markets offer a range of goods ranging from T-shirts, kurtis, vests, sphagettis, and tunics; short and long skirts, harem pants, leggings, cotton trousers and capris; and foot ware like ballerinas, flip-flops, jootis, Osho chappals, Kohlapuri chappals and wedges.

Most of these might not last more than one season but then, no one is complaining. After all, fashion is transient.

Shopping at these markets has its flip side.

"Shopping from these markets can sometimes become a disaster because if a particular design becomes popular, you will see every second person wearing the same outfit," said Neha Gupta, also a student at Miranda House.

"So it is better to do wise shopping. That means shop for clothes that have a shelf life and that look trendy and attractive at the same time," she contended.

Nidhi Qazi, a student at St. Stephen's College, concurred, saying she generally mixes and matches her outfits. A pair of branded jeans teamed with a tunic from Janpath completes her look.

"I want to look trendy and at the same time my clothes should be comfortable," she stated.

Hindu College student Pooja Khanna said: "Playing with accessories and matching them with outfits does make a difference. On top of that, one does not have to shell out that much of money on them."

This young brigade eagerly waits for the sales season to load their wardrobe with loads of branded clothes.

"During sales, I go completely mad as I can shop for all branded clothes without worrying about my budget," said Sheetal Nanda of Miranda House.

Finally, there are those who would like to trendy but have financial constraints.

Anisha Akbari, a student at the Indraprastha College for Women is from Afghanistan and stays as a paying guest in Lajpat Nagar.

"As a foreigner, I have certain financial constraints that do not allow me to splurge on dresses blindly," she pointed out.